It’s commonplace now for even Championship clubs to trawl the globe in search of players for their clubs.

But when Dons hosted Celtic 30 years ago this weekend it was the home side which got the draw they needed to clinch a second successive championship flag.

On that day Alex Ferguson’s all-conquering side became the last outside of the Old Firm to claim a league flag – and they were also the last to do it with an all-Scottish squad.

Fergie used 23 different players that season and every one of them was a paid-up member of the Tartan Army, with eight capped by their country.

Former skipper Willie Miller said: “Back then we didn’t have the Bosman ruling – what we had in its place you might call slavery.

Aberdeen celebrate winning the League Championship in May 1985

“Clubs could get rid of you but they could also hold on to your registration even if you wanted to leave. They had all the power then but that’s why Aberdeen and the likes of Dundee United were able to build teams.

“I was with Aberdeen for 20 years, Alex McLeish was there for 17 and Jim Leighton was at Pittodrie for a decade. That wouldn’t, couldn’t happen now.

“The power’s gone too far the other way and now you have a situation where Fulham can come in and snatch Jack Grimmer away from us after just four first-team appearances.

“Ryan Fraser and Fraser Fyvie also moved south before they’d served their apprenticeships. Long-term team building is a thing of the past.”

Miller and his team-mates missed out on the signing-on fees and moves that current players take for granted but accepts that playing at Pittodrie when they did gave them a legendary status that money can’t buy.

He said: “Rangers changed the game up here for good when they appointed Graeme Souness in 1986.

“They started signing England players and other internationals from foreign clubs. It was a revolution.

“After that everyone followed their lead - or tried to - to match them. Before that, there were very few transfers across borders, which was good for Scottish clubs because most of the money stayed in the game here.

“At Aberdeen, we also benefited from a special manager. At the start of every season, Fergie demanded two trophies.

“He had an insatiable desire for winning things and that sat well with me. The younger lads like Eric Black, Neale Cooper and Neil Simpson thought success was normal but I’d played in teams which narrowly avoided relegation so I appreciated what we achieved a bit more.”

On that afternoon in April, 1985, it took a rare headed goal from Miller to give Dons the crucial point after Celtic - who needed a win to overtake them - had gone ahead through a Roy Aitken penalty. He said: “I’m not even sure what I was doing up there. I don’t remember much about the game but the goal sticks in my memory because of its importance.

“The club have said nothing about celebrating the 30th anniversary but they could let me out on the pitch to repeat of my over-exuberant celebrations. Mind you, I’m not sure my knees would be up to it!”

Team-mate Black said: “I remember seeing Willie stretching his neck out to get his head to the ball. When it went in it was the furthest - and fastest - I’ve seen him run.

“Winning the title seemed natural for us. I’d grown up there believing that you’d turn up for pre-season training, play a few bounce games and eight months later,you pick up a few winner’s medals.

“Only now do I realise that our success didn’t happen by accident and how good that group was. I remember posing for a photograph with the guys who were about to go on international duty with the full and Under-21 squads and there were nine of us in it.”